Photoshop Elements provides you a toolbox in Quick and Expert modes to help you work on your photos. You can use the tools in the toolbox to select, enhance, draw, and view images.

Toolbox in the Quick mode

The toolbox in the Quick mode contains a small set of easy-to-use tools. The tools available in this mode are Zoom, Hand, Quick Selection, Eye, Whiten Teeth, Straighten, Type, Spot Healing Brush, Crop, and Move.

Paints with an image sample, which you can use to duplicate objects, remove image imperfections, or paint over objects in your photo. You can also clone part of an image to another image. For more information, see Clone images or areas in an image.

Pattern Stamp tool (S)

Paints with a pattern defined from your image, another image, or a preset pattern. For more information, see Use the Pattern Stamp tool.

Blur tool (R)

Softens hard edges or areas in an image by reducing details. For more information, see Blur or soften edges.

Sharpen tool (R)

Sharpens a photo by focusing soft edges in the photo to increase clarity or focus. For more information on sharpening, see Sharpen an image.

Smudge tool (R)

Simulates the actions of dragging a finger through wet paint. The tool picks up color where the stroke begins and pushes it in the direction you drag. For more information on the tool, see Use the Smudge tool.

Selects an object in your photo and moves the selection to a different location, or extends it. For more information about the tool, see Move and reposition objects.

Straighten tool (P)

Realigns an image vertically or horizontally. For more information about the tool, see Straighten an image.

Use a tool

To use a tool in the Quick or Expert mode, first select the tool from the toolbox. Next, use the various options in the Tool Options bar to accomplish your task.

Select a tool

Do one of the following:

Click a tool in the toolbox.

Press the keyboard shortcut for the tool. For example, press B to select the Brush tool. The keyboard shortcut for a tool is displayed in the tool tip. You can also find a list of helpful keyboard shortcuts in Keys for selecting tools.

Note:

You cannot deselect a tool—once you select a tool, it remains selected until you select a different tool. For example, if you’ve selected the Lasso tool, and you want to click your image without selecting anything, select the Hand tool.

Select options from the Tool Options bar

The Tool Options bar appears at the bottom in the Photoshop Elements window. It displays the options for a selected tool. For example, if you select the Crop tool from the toolbox, you find related tools (Cookie Cutter tool and Perspective Crop tool), and other options in the Tool Options bar.

Click here to watch a video on how to use the Crop tool. The video explains the options available in the Tool Options bar for the Crop tool.

Note:

If the Tool Options bar is not visible, click the tool icon in the toolbox or click Tool Options in the Taskbar.

Tool Options bar for the Lasso tool

A. Active tool icon B. Related tools C. Additional options

Edit tool preferences

You can modify the default preferences for tools. For example, you can hide the tool tips or change the appearance of a tool pointer.

Edit General preferences

Do one of the following:

In Windows, choose Edit > Preferences > General.

In Mac, choose Photoshop Elements > Preferences > General.

Set one or more of the following options:

Select Show Tool Tips to show tool tips.

Select Use Shift Key for Tool Switch to cycle through a set of hidden tools by holding down the Shift key. When this option is deselected, you can cycle through a set of tool options by pressing the keyboard shortcut (without holding down Shift). For example, pressing B on your keyboard repeatedly cycles through all the Brush tool options (Brush, Impressionist Brush, and Color Replacement tools).

Select Select Move tool After Committing Text to select the Move tool after you use the Type tool to add text to your photo.

Click OK.

Set the appearance of a pointer

Do one of the following:

In Windows, choose Edit > Preferences > Display & Cursors.

In Mac, choose Photoshop Elements > Preferences > Display & Cursors.

Select a setting for the painting cursors:

Standard Displays pointers as tool icons

Precise Displays pointers as cross-hairs

Normal Brush Tip Displays pointers as circles at 50% of the size you specify for the brush

Full Size Brush Tip Displays pointers as circles at the full size you specify for the brush

Show Crosshair In Brush Tip Displays cross-hairs in the circles when you choose either Normal Brush Tip or Full Size Brush Tip

Select a setting for other cursors:

Standard Displays pointers as tool icons

Precise Displays pointers as cross-hairs

Click OK.

Resize or change the hardness of painting cursors by dragging (Windows only)

You can resize or change the hardness of a
painting cursor by dragging in the image. As you drag, you preview
both the size and hardness of the painting tool.

To resize a cursor, right-click + press Alt, and drag to the left or right.

To change the hardness of a cursor, right-click + press Alt, and drag up or down.

Reset tool settings to default

You can restore the default settings of a selected tool or all tools.

Select a tool from the toolbox.

Alternatively, press keyboard shortcut for the tool.

Click to open the pop-up menu in the Tool Options bar and do one of the following: